hgvneil

Interrogating the driver while he is in 'high speed,split second mistake causes major death mode' is probably not the wisest thing to do.

You can see the guy getting more and more wound up by her,taking his attention off the road ahead.

I think she should of tried to calmly tell him to "slow down please" a few times.He then would of either complied with a "oh so sorry good customer" but more likely replied with a sarcastic comment and a laugh to himself.

Then she should close her eyes,prey to buddah,and then if I was her,the next time the van came to a stop,grab my bag,jump out the door,get a taxi from wherever you are.

With the knowledge that you will live to see another day.

Know little about the Yamaha,but the Honda wave is an excellent bike.

As said the Honda is the best selling bike ever,over 60 million in various supercub forms.

We had bought a Honda dream 100cc when I met the mrs in Thailand back in 1999.

Now in the UK we have BOTH got Honda waves 125i ( called innova over here )

Not many ride them over here,but those who know of them can tell of the excellent economy,reliability.

They are popular in UK for pizza delivery companys.Thats why friends at work take the piss and ask me for pepperoni or cheese/tomato when I arrive at work.

But I don't care because I know they are brilliant bikes.

By the way the valves/tappets have to be checked at 2500 miles intervals.It has to be set correctly with a feeler gauge.Also I change the oil on ours every 1000 miles.

Back when we had the Honda dream in Thailand I knew nothing of maintenance,but the owner manual will tell you everything.

As for MPG check out this Israeli guy who put up excellent DIY and maintenance videos on youtube for the wave/innova.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f6OEcffJ3w&list=PLXlwe-Wg__YaTZ3Z3QWnbyZcm91R4ReTu

A must read book,colin firth will play the older Eric Lomax in the film,so cant wait till its released.

Ive read lots of books on the POW in Thailand,and the Thais helped many allied soldiers.Do a search for Boon Pong a member of the underground resistance who saved thosands of lives by supplying medicines to the prisoners,he was awarded a high honour by the British royal family.There was also special forces parachuted into jungle around the camps and thosands of thai soldiers trained by the British and i think Americans as a possible offensive,but the japanese surrendered in the war before they were used.

In officer Steel's book (forgot his first name) he described after the japanese had surrendered and coming back from ubon ratchatani by train,the local Thai were cheering at every station and passing food to the soldiers through the windows.

Bus from swampy airport goes to koh chang but not sure which pier it goes to.Maybe centerpoint so wrong pier.

When we left from ekkamai bus station last month it took us to centrepoint pier,but we were going to koh chang first anyway.

Oh come on,Thai police are dodgy as F@+*,you cant tell me you been here 19 years and not worked that one out.Dont belive you.My wife's first husband was a policeman.A hopeless drunk,who drunk himself to death at a young age.Belive me drug dealing is only the tip of iceberg for cops,this guy was paid to KILL, off duty work so to speak.

You must be living in cloud cuckoo land.

I saw the bbc documentary,nothing new learnt,dont belive any of the army snipers will be prosecuted despite sister taksin promise.

But the repoter did seem lost for words for an instant when absit makes the point that it took many years for the bloody sunday massacre to be recognised and to my knowledge,still no soldiers have been prosecuted for that.

Can someone please explain to me why on Earth would someone in their right mind be interested in becoming a Muslim for a month?

I don't get it, I just don't get it.

Its not that hard to get is it ? The exact kind of person who would want to be a buddist for a month,and for the same reason.

Got someone who will check it out for me,tried to get it rent out before we left last time but its unfurnished and quite basic.We did pay up the tax before we left though.

About 5 years ago the wife and i bought a piece of land (just under rai and half) on koh chang,there was a small house on the land with a local family living there.The lady wanted to sell and move to mainland so we agreed on a bargain price and soon we were on the mainland at land office signing over the titles.My wife has a full chanote in her name.The house in my eyes came as a bonus,as i wanted to knock it down and build a large family house at the back of the land,but the following year we returned from uk and renovated the existing house and made it live able with new electrics ,tiled floor, painted and new doors etc.When finished we left it unfurnished as we had to return to uk and diddnt want to leave it full of gear to get possibly stolen.We also got a house book with the wife and our 2 kids name on it.

My worry is this,when we returned to uk,my employment took a positive turn and i got a great job,so our plans to live in Thailand were put on the back burner,also i decided that the kids would be better to finish there education in England.So,although we returned once to check the house a year after it was done up,we havent been back for nearly 3 years.Im worrying that maybe squatters could get in/or on the land or in an extreme case ,someone build there and try and put some claim on the land.I think this would be unheard of in a big town city,but its a worry on the islands.

We have no contacts on the island as we didnt stay any real length who we could get to check it now and then,i suppose im just after some reassurance on the legal side of things.

Thanks NEIL.

What a crock of sh*t. These people will end up handcuffed in local jails like the recent case of the Briton in Pattaya.

As of 2006, the most recent WHO report shows that;

- There are only 17 mental hospitals in Thailand providing 13.8 beds per 100,000 population. In the last five years the number of mental hospital beds has decreased by 7% (There has not been any significant increase in funding since the report was issued in 2006.)

- There is no provision for routine follow-up community care.

- No facility has mental heath mobile clinic teams.

- In terms of treatment, a few patients last year received one or more psychosocial interventions.

- There are no mental health day treatment facilities in Thailand, except the ones specifically for children with mental retardation or for people with substance abuse.

- There are 25 community-based psychiatric inpatient units in regional hospitals with 0.4 beds per 100,000 general population.

- Community residential facilities for patients being discharged from the hospitals do not exist.

Who will take care of these mentally ill people?

- 419 psychiatrists (0.66 per 100,000 population)

- 110 other medical doctors (not specialized in psychiatry but associated with mental health care); 0.17 per 100,000 population);

- 2406 nurses (3.81 per 100,000 population);

- 163 psychologists (0.26 per 100,000 population);

- 465 social workers (0.74 per 100,000 population) (Other reports cite 0.56)

- 125 occupational therapists (0.20 per 100,000 population

The numbers speak for themselves. The mentally ill will not be treated.

There will be no occupational therapy and the problem will continue.

That is the reality. Welcome to Thailand where people that should know better call the mentally ill nutcases.

Another headline grabbing promise as elections are due - let's say this week we will fix the social issues, that should get some votes (not).

There's a large government run psychiatric hospital in my province just down the road from me which is pretty nice, set in huge 150 Rai landscaped gardens and the patients are treated well. Might not be enough of them but the psychiatric hospitals they do have aren't too bad.

This kind of comment astounds meFirstly it is just one hospital in a population of 60 million....are trying to say because you have seen a hospital that LOOKS nice then mental healthcare in Thailand is OK - otherwise what are you trying to imply?

Furthermore, how do you know it is any good? have you done a survey of healthcare in Thailand - or eve your province? - or are you just judging the place by its architecture?Who can get treatment? Nationwide?

it's just such a presumptuous thing to say and in truth has no bearing on the issues at all.

If you want to cite individual hospitals get some authoritative information to back it up - not just personal observation.

I bet that old volunteer cop is sooo proud of himself,a joints worth of weed,what a bust and what a hero.

I think anyone who becomes an unpaid police volunteer is obviously doing it for the status,look at my uniform,

what sort of checks are done on these guys on what they got up to in their own countries.

The way my wife passed it is by memorising the questions in the book,the online test will help, but by just keep going over and over the same questions,she will learn just by repetition.My wife passed 2nd or third time i think,but i was really proud of her for putting in the effort as i never thought she would pass.

Thanks for all replies,the mrs and i are well out the way,we been in uk for a year since last visit there.She will be speaking to her sister this weekend,i will pass on some of the suggestions .I dont think throwing money at some dodgy lawyer will help one bit,the idea about compensation is good.Bujt im not sure how that will go down as the wifes sister went to the guys funeral and was nearly attacked.They said they would kill him when he gets out,but obviously still so angry at funeral.

Maybe any money will be better spent giving him decent food to eat inside.

It looks even worse because a stick was used by the nephew so this could be classed as a weapon,im not defending this guy at all ,i hate the thai style of all on one,its for cowards.

Anyone sensible know roughly how long he may get if he pleads guilty,,

In the Thai Court system leniency is usually granted only by an admission of guilt to the court

A lawyer is not going to do much unless you have a ton of money for the lawyer to prove not guilty.

Going back with 3 friends to beat up a guy because you got beat up, does not sound to me like the shy, quiet kid type to me?

Maybe there is some history there you are not aware of

You maybe right,we havent been there for nearly a year,all i know is that i have never heard of this lad being in ANY trouble and i would of heard if he had.I think we need to find out what hes been up to recently,but that aint going to help him now.If there is no case to answer and he is guilty,apart from pleading guilty can a lawyer help him at all..

Chaiyaphum province,i fully expect the hang em, high brigade,its hard to defend the guy,from the rough details i got it was revenge attack.Why the f@#$ cant thais sort their beef out man 2 man,instead all this outnumbered gang up sh#t.Childs play.!!

If this is true it makes your sister-in-law's son a murderer. Bad decisions and huge consequences. One can only hope for a bit of leniency from the court at sentencing given that he is young, has been in no trouble, etc. Tough situation really. A good lawyer will be very expensive. I feel for you and your position. It is difficult. It's family. You have money. You'll at least be expected to contribute, unless your wife's family is wealthy. And in fact you do have some responsibility to do what you can to help, within reason. But the boy did wrong, very wrong. In any Western court he'd face a pretty stiff sentence regardless of any mitigating circumstances. Good luck. Be supportive as much as you can.

Yes your quite right,he is a murderer,and as i said he should do time inside,it was the local police advice to get the lawyer so maybe they know the lads history and think its worth trying to get some leniency.Wife and i both working in uk,so yeah we will be expected to contribute and you guessed it,they are not wealthy.

Just heard that my wifes sisters son has done something real stupid.

Ive met him loads of times and was always shy quiet,not in any gangs and after left school was working with his father. This young man was never in any trouble and i was surprised as he seemed a straight enough lad.Anyway when he was back in his village staying with his mum,the local village idiot picks a fight and starts smashing his motorbike while he was in a shop,he came outside and got into a fight and got a right kicking of this <deleted> ( who was carrying a knife l ).Got a chair smashed over his head. It got broke up any they both retreated,well next nursing his wounds calls the village idiot back for a rematch,if hes man enough,and the guy returns,but my wifes nephew has some back up,3 mates ,and they jump the guy and the guy is killed.Nephew and one other friend are nicked for the fatal blows.

Now i know what they did was wrong and should be punished,they are locked up as i write this,but the local village police say to my wifes sister(his mum) that she needs a lawyer and maybe he can get his sentance reduced. He has already been moved to the provincial capital jail so i dont think its buy your way out of jail issue,we are waiting info from Thailand to hear if he has a court date.

Does anyone know lawyers ,procedures ,that this lad can take,as far as i can gather from mrs,is the police are not asking for the money ,they just advising her to get a lawyer to help him.

Thanks.NEIL

Unfortunatly you have people who will defend police,goverment violence no matter how severe it is.In their eyes the the authorities can do no wrong.They may live squeaky clean lives and think they will never come across the wrong side of the law.So any one who does,well its the ,they deserve it,attitude.

Like dont smoke a joint if you dont want your hands cut off,type of thing.

But, these people will keep this mindset,UNTIL, maybe just one day they accidently in their squeaky clean lives come across the real side of police oppression and become the innocent party in a corrupt violent situation,and see how quick their tune changes.

To anyone reading this who is getting ready to move to their home country with their Thai wife,girlfriend.

Be very careful what ,FRIENDS,your partner makes with other Thais.From experience and probably from many others,this can bring problems to your relationship due to ,FRIENDS,getting involved with your lives and causing arguements.I dont know why but it always happens.

My friends who where in UK and awiting our return to England called me and said , we just met some nice waitress in the new Thai resturant in town,we told her about you and your wife coming to England for first time,she gave us her phone number, i told my wife thinking great she got a friend already and we not arrived yet,but my wife wasnt interested.Most guys may think it will be good to have friends for your partner to eat,chat with,but be warned.

After our first year she got some mates,we had the arguements to the point where i had to tell some mentally deranged Thai woman who came knocking on our door,to fuc_k off and find a doctor,in thai so she got the message.

We been in UK now 8 years,2 kids,never any arguements,both working and all good.She knows a lot of the thai women in our town,she is polite will stop and say hello,quick chat in the street but thats it.No phoning or going round for gossip,food. She even got a new sim to get rid of old contacts.She does have good friendship with chinese,malaysian woman who is a lovely lady and Spanish,indian,polish,turkish friends but no Thais,and thats the way she wants it.

,i like free bananas, LOL nice one h20dunc.... you old uppity northern monkey !!

We have our house availible for rent for 11 months possibly longer on koh chang.It is on east coast 2 mins from centrepoint ferry dan khao,on main road.

Newly tiled.electrics,mosquito screens on all windows,2 bedrooms,large living room,western toilet,no shower but can install if needed,set on 1 1/2 rai of land,can have full use of land,quiet location,phone/internet avalible . Only 5,000 baht per month upfront for the whole term,and possible for longer.

Pleas call neil on 0811359294 if interested, must be rent before we go back to UK on 20th April so if see ad after its too late.

ignore them,dont waste your time,may be one of them will get on the wrong side of a very polite and friendly immigration officer one day.And they] will have more idiots writing about them on thai visa aswell while they banged up with no embassy help.

This month will be first time with eva,want to try] them out,been with thai b4,no complaints.Im still gutted as i booked in december b4 the sales.

Paid 1950 pounds for 2 adult 2 kids,could have save a few hundred pound if waited till january].

Nationwide charge 20 pound per swift transaction,plus receiving bank will charge to change currency to thai baht.Siam commercial bank have a 500 baht maximum charge on recieving swift payment.

If you have nationwide online account you can print the swift payment form ,fill it in ,sign it,send it to UK to get money sent to your thai bank account.

Hsbc only charge 15 pounds to send and i think its quicker.

Im still gutted nationwide will start to charge though as its so convienient with my debit card,but with the cash card,is it still able to use in most ATM in thailand..

Yes as a non biker i enjoy]ed reading that exellent post and great photos,cheers.